Month: June 2018

REVIEW: Ruined by Amy Tintera

REVIEW: Ruined by Amy Tintera

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The people of Ruina are feared because of the magic they wield. And their queen has taught them to use their powers and brutally exert control over others. But the king of Lera is determined to exterminate the Ruined and their magic. He kills the Ruined queen himself. He even convinces the Vallos princess, Mary, to cut off the Ruined king’s head as part of the agreement to marry Lera’s Prince Casimir. The king also captured the powerful Ruined princess, Olivia. Her powerless sister Emelina is presumed dead.

But Emelina is very much alive – and very dangerous, even without magic. Her plan is to pose as the Vallos princess, marry Prince Casimir, find her sister, and get a front row seat to the destruction of Lera. Her plan does not include Prince Casimir being somewhat reasonable. He questions his father’s policies about the Ruined. He’s not at all what Em expected. But none of that matters. Recovering her sister is her primary aim. Destroying Lera and the royal family is revenge for everything they took from her and from her people.

Review

I loved the complicated and conflicting motives and interpretations of war in this book. It reminded me of Ash Princess in that way except this is a more active story right from the start. The author does a great job of letting the book jacket summary tell the back story initially so that the action starts immediately on the first page. Em and Cas both feel like their side of the war is justified because of what the other side did first. Violence and fear and vengeance perpetuate it. But the prince and his deceitful bride slowly see glimpses of the other perspective and how complicated it is to find a way to peace.

I loved the characters. Em and Cas are terrific together, even when they are bitter enemies with swords pointed at one another. The secondary characters – with their own goals and priorities – add some nice complications as well as depth to the story.

This is more violent than some other books in the displaced-royalty-fighting-for-their-place collection of stories. (A collection I love!) And that violence pushes the tension and action right to the last page. The tension at the end made me happy I picked up the second book a few days before I finished this one so I can dive right in. I highly recommend this for older teens and young adult/adult readers who are comfortable with the level of violence. This story and the characters are terrific.

In the interim between writing this review and posting it, I have had time to read the other two books in the series – Avenged and Allies – and I enjoyed the entire trilogy. Is it perfect? No, but I found the story and the characters to be compelling. I had to know what was going to happen, and I was satisfied with the wrap up.

Rating for Ruined: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck

REVIEW: The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Chloe Daschle is tired of playing characters who die. But death scenes have sort of become her bread and butter – all anyone wants her to do, it seems. But not this time. Chloe has read an amazing new script, and she is determined to be the lead. Bound by Love takes place during the American Revolution. It’s based on a letter from the screen writer, Jesse Gates’, ancestor. In the letter, Hamilton asks an old flame if their love might have a second chance after both of their beloved spouses have passed away. Chloe, a big believer in True Love, longs to play the role of Esther in this fictionalized version of the love story represented by the letter.

Hamilton and Esther were very real people in 1781. While Esther was part of British society, she and her father lived in South Carolina where her father managed the land and assets of a wealthy British businessman. Hamilton lived on a nearby farm with the aunt and uncle who raised him after he lost his family. While the two young people are in love, circumstances put them on opposites sides of the growing hostilities in the colonies.

Hundreds of years apart, the stories of Hamilton and Esther and Jesse and Chloe are tied together in ways they can’t begin to fathom.

Review

This is a lovely story of family, forgiveness and faith. This formula of connecting stories in different time periods has been used to great success by this author before, and it works again this time.

The historic pieces from the Revolutionary War are solid. The events of that time period really work against the characters of Hamilton and Esther. The reader gets to see how things develop in the community and threaten to pull the young people apart.

I enjoyed the contemporary story more than the historical one for this book (whereas I enjoyed the historical part more in The Writing Desk.) This isn’t an especially deep or tortured love story, but each character has baggage to overcome. I really enjoyed Chloe and Jesse, and I was cheering for them from the start.

The faith pieces were okay. There are some slightly “mystical” moments that felt out of place to me with the rest of the story. But I loved the conversion stories that explored faith and surrender and unconditional love for some of the characters.

I found a book by this author on my TBR shelves and another on my e-reader. Both are now on my summer reading wish list. I really enjoy Ms. Hauck’s work and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro

REVIEW: Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free copy of this book as part of my work as a judge for the 2017 Cybil awards.]

Summary

Zoey finds out a big secret about the forest by her house as her mom gets ready for a business trip. Magical creatures live there! Before her mom leaves, she tells Zoey about a talking frog she found as a kid. Using her science skills and animal knowledge, Zoey’s mom had been able to help the sick frog. But she thought she was the only one who could see the creatures. Zoey’s dad can’t. But now that she knows Zoey can, Zoey can watch for any creatures in need while her mom is gone.

Near the end of her mom’s trip, Zoey finds a sickly dragon. She and her cat, Sassafras, try to take care of it while Zoey uses her own science skills to figure out what is wrong. When her first idea seems to work, but the dragon is still sick, Zoey is desperate for her mom to come home. What will happen if Zoey can’t figure out what is wrong with the dragon?

Review

This was adorable! I mentioned this in a Saturday Smorgasbord earlier this year, but I wanted to give it a full review because I enjoyed it so much. It’s smart and fun – just what I love in a book, especially one for kids exploring chapter books for the first time.

Zoey and Sassafras are endearing. Zoey is smart and curious and resourceful. Sassafras is a typical cat with hints of attitude at times. But mostly he is insightful and a fantastic partner for Zoey. The author does a great job of describing the interactions between the characters. I just wanted to hug them

The fantasy piece is a fun hook for readers. Kids who love creatures like dragons will love this as will kids who love traditional animal stories. The science pieces – reptile facts, instructions for running an experiment – are perfect for 2nd and 3rd grade students. This would be a great series to give to your favorite young reader as well as your favorite lower elementary teacher.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: June 26, 2018

BOOK NEWS: June 26, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

The last Tuesday in June means lots of great books for your summer vacation! Here are some of the ones releasing this week.

Books for Kids

A Dog Named Doug – An adorable rhyming book about a dog who loves to dig!
Geraldine – A giraffe, reluctant to move and start at a new school in a new town where she is the only giraffe, finds a friend. I can’t wait to read this one!
Honeydukes Scratch and Sniff – If I had a working sense of smell, I would be more interested in this one, but I can see it appealing to a lot of Harry Potter fans!
I Am: Names of God for Little Ones (board book) – Adorable-looking board book for the youngest book lovers.
Jack B Ninja – “Jack Be Nimble” with a ninja twist. I adore books like this. They make great gifts for kids who love martial arts – or for their younger siblings.
Peg + Cat: The Eid al-Adha Adventure – Eid al-Adha is a holiday that includes practices to share with those who have less. Peg and Cat get to use their math skills to help with the fractions. I love this series!
Sir Tim Wants a Dragon (July 1) – A boy and his mom head to the pet store because he wants a pet. What pet would be perfect for a young knight? A dragon!
What If You Had an Animal Tail? – Book 6 in this fantastic series for kids! Some of my teacher friends have done amazing projects with their classes based on this series. There’s a new book coming in December, too.
Curious George in Super George! – George and his friend are off to solve a caper. This looks adorable; I love George! (hardcover early reader)
Hurricane Katrina Rescue – Book 8 in the Ranger in Time series – a series I call Magic Tree House with a dog. Perfect for kids ready for chapter books.
Mr. Wolf’s Class – A new teacher and a new fourth grade class are full of stories in this first book in a new series.
Waking the Rainbow Dragon – Book 10 in the Dragon Masters series from Scholastic Branches, my favorite line of early chapter books for kids.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

American Girl – Pearl Harbor – Book 4 in the Real Stories from My Time series from American Girl.
Harry Potter (Anniversary Covers) – I usually don’t spotlight books that are being re-released, but these are the 20th Anniversary books with all new covers. Frankly, the covers from Kazu Kibuishi are my favorites, and then the originals by Mary GrandPré. But Brian Selznick fans will want to scoop these up!
The Jamie Drake Equation – A kid whose dad is living on the International Space Station picks up a strange signal on his phone. Could it be aliens? Jamie is ready to prove he is a hero, too. I’m eager to check this one out!
The Language of Spells – A girl and a dragon form an unusual partnership as they go looking for the dragons that vanished from Vienna around WWII. I LOVE a good dragon book, so I am eager to give this one a try.
Strays Like Us – A girl in foster care longs to rescue the dog next door from his mean owner. But she knows not to get too attached to anything – the dog, her foster mom, or a friend from school. This sounds like a book I will love!
Wings of Fire – The Lost Continent – Book 11 in this outstanding series about dragons kicks off a new five-book arc. I have had this pre-ordered for months! I just have to wait a little longer and it will be here. I will drop everything to read this one.
The Evolution of Claire – For teen fans of Jurassic World comes a prequel that fills in the backstory of Claire Dearing.
The Fragile Ordinary – Set in Scotland this is a story of a girl who never feels truly herself, the bad boy from America who takes the school by storm, and what happens when these two opposite personalities have to work together.
Learning to Breathe – A sixteen-year-old girl struggles to hide a pregnancy from the aunt who is just itching to throw her out into the streets. This is the sort of hook that leaves me needing to know more. This is on my list.
My Plain Jane –  A new take on the classic Jane Eyre. I know I read Jane Eyre as a teen, but I don’t remember it at all. This twisty version sounds terrific and might just get me to re-read the original.
Now You See Her – A tennis player finds herself in the body of her rival after a near-abduction and an accident. I was completely taken in by the full premise of this. It’s a must read for me.
Wild Blue Wonder – In June it was all camping and wild blueberries and love. But by winter, after the accident, the magic of summer has all but disappeared. Yep, I’ll be reading this one, too! Can’t let a mysterious “accident” get thrown out there and not read the book for the details.
Your Destination Is on the Left – An artist who has lived in an RV on the road with her family all her life takes a risk on an internship that might help propel her into the future. But when problems arise for her family, she’ll have to decide which life she wants to hold onto. Yes, that’s going on the list, too.

Books for Adults

Buried in Books – Book 12 in the Bibliophile mystery series. The bride-to-be is surprised when two feuding friends show up at her bridal shower. But they seem to have put the past behind them. When one is later killed, the soon-to-be bride needs to find answers so her special day can go off without a hitch. I have not kept up with this series, but this particular story sounds like one I would enjoy.  (Hardcover*)
Claws of Death – Book 2 in the Cat Lady mystery series after Escape Claws. A retired actress who adopts some kittens from Lara’s shelter is the prime suspect in a murder. I enjoyed the first book in the series, and I’m eager to see how this second one stacks up. (It looks like this series is primarily for e-readers, but there is a Trade Paperback* option.)
Death by Espresso – Book 6 in the Bookstore Cafe mystery series. This is another wedding-themed story. This time, the bride-to-be’s snobby mother has brought in her own wedding planner who winds up dead. This is not a series I have tried, but now I am curious to give it a go. (Mass Market Paperback*)
Kappy King and the Pickle Kaper – Book 2 in the Kappy King Amish mystery series. This time, a buggy accident starts to look like murder. I have book one on my wish list already – and a third book is coming out in December. I need to get reading on this one. (Trade Paperback*)
A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder – First in a new series about the widowed Countess of Harleigh who is trying to keep the details of her husband’s indiscretions to herself but she is a suspect in his death. I requested this one from the library early in June, and it will be hitting my e-reader tomorrow! I can’t wait! (Hardcover*)
Portrait of a Sister – Another Amish story, a standalone this time. Twin sisters living vastly different lives as one left the Amish community and the other stayed behind. Katie is determined to do the “right” thing – forget her artistic gifts which are a sin and marry the man who has been chosen for her. But her sister’s invitation to spend some time in New York opens up new ideas in Katie’s heart and mind. I’m only a few chapters into this one, but I am hooked already! (Trade Paperback*)
Staged 4 Murder – Book 3 in the Sophie Kimball mystery series. Private investigator Sophie gets drawn into a real life Agatha Christie mystery when an actor in a production of “The Mousetrap“ is killed. (Mass Market Paperback*)
Till Death Do Us Tart – Book 8 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one later this summer. (Mass Market Paperback*)
To Catch a Latte – A new e-book mystery from one of my favorite authors, Jenn McKinlay. A cafe owner is suspected of money laundering and her sexy FBI agent tenant is looking into the case. I’ve already pre-ordered this one. (E-book only)
Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies: How to Find Trustworthy Information in the Digital Age (June 29) – This is a must read for me. (Hardcover*)
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism – I have this one on my list, too. (Trade Paperback*)

 

*I’ve noticed that publishers have shifted some of their new mystery series to Trade paperback (full size paperback with a sale price around $15 or $16) or hardcover (with a sale price around $25) instead of Mass Market paperback which runs around $8. When I think of it, I’ll try to note the format so readers can plan their book budgets – and trips to the library – accordingly.

REVIEW: Almost Impossible by Nicole Williams

REVIEW: Almost Impossible by Nicole Williams

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

After 17 years of homeschool and life on the road with her mom’s band, Jade is ready to try something different. The band has hit the big time and is going on tour, but Jade wants to experience a “normal” teenage summer. So she moves in with her mom’s older sister and her family in California, gets a job at the local pool, and hopes to make some friends since she’ll be staying in one place for a couple months.

Jade’s Aunt Julie is the antithesis of her mom. Jade’s mom was a teenager when she had her, so she’s young. She lives the nomadic lifestyle of a musician. Her parenting style is pretty “free range.” In some ways, Jade is more like the parent in their relationship. Aunt Julie, on the other hand, is pretty over protective. While she has the best of intentions, she can be overbearing – especially to someone used to the freedoms Jade usually has. So, rather than fight her aunt, Jade sneaks out when she needs some space. She knows her own mind and trusts her own boundaries.

Jade never expected to meet a guy like Quentin. She wants to play things cool around him, but he’s charming and handsome. Before she knows it, she’s falling for him. But Quentin has secrets he’s reluctant to share. How can she really trust him when he won’t tell her the truth?

Review

This was a delight from start to finish. The relationship between Jade and Quentin is one of my favorite sorts of romances in YA literature. Less brooding, more banter! They’re flirty and funny, and I loved them.

For me, the big “reveal”/climax wasn’t as big as I was expecting. This was more a fun relationship story than a big, angsty teen drama. And while I enjoy those, too, I also love light, fun relationship stories like this. This was a perfect summer romance story for me.

In addition to the main romantic story line, this is also a story of family. Jade and her mom. Her mom and Aunt Julie. Aunt Julie and her husband. Jade and her dad. This touches on a lot of relationships, some more deeply than others. I would have liked to see some of them developed and explored even more, but that wasn’t the story this book set out to tell.

I really enjoyed spending time with Jade and Quentin. I enjoyed the relatively light tone of this. It was a perfect summer read for me!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Isaiah - Everyday Bible Commentary by Alfred Martin

REVIEW: Isaiah – Everyday Bible Commentary by Alfred Martin

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

This is an overview of the book of Isaiah in the Bible. The original publication date for this book is 1956. Bible verses are quoted mostly from the King James or New King James version of the Bible.

I found the sections on the history of the authorship debates about Isaiah to be very interesting. That was information I had not heard before. The book also highlights some of the contextual pieces that we might lose in translation such as Isaiah’s humor and sarcasm or some of the structure of the writing.

There’s an emphasis on the Messianic prophecies and connections to New Testament passages. There’s also a lot of focus on God’s love and lamentation in the midst of judgement. Another theme that is explored is the need to depend on God.

Review

I was excited to review this book because I just finished a detailed study of Isaiah, and I loved it. This was a little more big picture than I was expecting. Therefore it felt like a backwards step instead of digging deeper for me. This would have been more useful before I started my study.  At this point I would have preferred something like a William Barclay commentary instead.

This particular book covered more about the history of the book of Isaiah as a part of accepted Scripture than I expected. I found the information new and interesting, but as a “Bible Study” (which this is not – it’s a commentary), I would have been frustrated with this. I feel there are other commentaries that could be useful in studying a book of Scripture. In this case I think this would be best used as an introduction for people about to dig into a study through a class or small group. Some of the language – at least in my review copy which has not gone through final edits – felt dated to me, too, which was disappointing.

If you haven’t read all of Isaiah before, or if you are looking for an overview or introduction, consider giving this a try as long as you are comfortable with a King James translation. If you prefer a more contemporary translation or a more in depth study, you might consider looking at other resources.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: EngiNerds by Jarrett Lerner

REVIEW: EngiNerds by Jarrett Lerner

Posted on by Jaymie

[Thanks to the author, Jarrett Lerner, who hosted a social media contest in 2017 where I won a copy of EngiNerds.]

Summary

Kennedy and his crew of friends call themselves “The EngiNerds.” There’s roughly a dozen of them, and they hang out in the science lab at lunch. Ken’s best friend is Dan. His nemesis is John Henry Knox, a kid obsessed with weather.

One day Ken comes home from school and finds a huge and heavy box on his porch with his name on it. Dan helps him get it in the house, and they start to put it together. After a brief distraction, they come back and find a fully assembled robot.

Greeeg, the robot, is apparently smart enough to assemble himself. And he’s VERY hungry. Greeeg will eat anything – except radishes – including glass jars and take out containers. At first, Ken thinks Greeeg is another cool present from his grandpa like the wind tunnel or the train set. But Grandpa K. didn’t send Greeeg. And Ken is starting to think that his cool new robot might be a lot more dangerous than he first thought.

Review

This was page after page of fun. The boys are quirky and smart. They bicker and banter, but when push comes to shove, they back each other up. I didn’t even get to know them very well yet in this first book. There’s a lot more to discover about the boys in the next book, I hope.

And the robot adventure is just getting started for Ken and his friends. There are plenty of mysteries and unanswered questions to carry readers further into the series.

If this had come out when I was teaching, I would have needed several copies of this in the library. I know just the kids I would have given this one to. They would have gobbled it up, begging for more.

I highly recommend it for the middle grade readers in your life who enjoy funny, quirky stories and science fiction.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: June 19, 2018

BOOK NEWS: June 19, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

Summer marches on, but at least there are plenty of books to keep us busy! Here are some of the new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Cece Loves Science – Science-minded Cece and her best friend run experiments to see if Cece’s dog will eat his vegetables. I love picture books that highlight science and math in everyday stories. This would be great for classroom use.
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates – The author of the fabulous Mother Bruce series brings us a new story about a little T-Rex trying to make friends at school. This is a must read for me!
Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 – A picture book biography of Katherine Johnson, one of the women mathematicians highlighted in the movie (and books) Hidden Figures. This would be a must-have if I was still teaching!
Look at Me: How to Attract Attention in the Animal World – I don’t think you can go wrong with an animal book when it comes to material for kids. Add the fact that this is written by science writers Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, and this becomes a must-buy, too.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Everything I Know About You – On a school trip to DC, a group of seventh grade friends are partnered with some of their sworn enemies. But one of the girls suspects her roommate may have an eating disorder. Is she willing to risk humiliation to seek help for a girl she doesn’t even like? This is high on my list for this week. Sounds like the sort of middle grade story I enjoy.
The Jigsaw Jungle – A girl starts compiling a scrapbook to solve the mystery of her missing father. I already have this one in my Amazon cart. [If only I had a budget that would allow me to buy all the books I want to read….]
Kid Normal – A normal kid stumbles into a school for superheroes. I really got a kick out of this one. I’ll be reviewing this later this summer.
The Selkie of San Francisco – Book 2 in the Sam London Adventures series after Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw about a kid who discovers mythical creatures living in our national parks. I enjoyed the first book, and this second one sounds great, too!
Takedown – A boy and a girl who love wrestling deal with the fall out of folks who don’t think a girl should wrestle and what happens when partners become opponents. This has been getting great buzz for months. I’m looking forward to checking this one out.
Dinosaurs, Dodos and Woolly Mammoths (My Weird School Fast Facts) – The latest nonfiction book from My Weird School author Dan Gutman.
What Is Climate Change? AND What Is the Constitution? – The latest books from the folks who first brought us the Who Was series of biographies feel very timely for this season in our culture!
Almost Impossible – A girl spending her first summer in America meets a boy who is determined to make it unforgettable. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Not the Girls You’re Looking For – A story of a teen girl who, among other things, makes a scene at a party (she totally did not mean to make that cute guy almost drown) and also at Ramadan. She’s sure she and her friends can make the best of whatever mistakes she might make, but sometimes small-looking things become big things. Looking forward to checking this one out, too.

Books for Adults

Murder Made to Order – Book 2 in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series about a New York transplant in Florida who may lose her diner due to a zoning issue. Then the town council president – the one taking a hard line on the zoning issue  – is found dead. I have book one of this series on my Kindle wish list. (It feels like maybe this series is primarily for e-readers, but a trade paperback* version is also available.)
Perfect Couple – Just before the wedding event of the season in Nantucket, a body is found in the harbor, and everyone in the wedding is a suspect. I’ve not read any of the author’s work before, but this particular mystery sounds fantastic! (Hardcover*)
#NeverAgain: A New Generation Draws the Line – Two survivors (siblings) of the Parkland, Florida school shooting (February 14, 2018) speak out in an effort to bring the epidemic of school shootings to a close. I definitely will be reading this one!
Uncensored: My Life and Uncomfortable Conversations at the Intersection of Black and White America – This young man shares his personal story which has led him to be a crusader for free speech. I don’t know much about the author, Zachary Wood, but I am curious to check out his story.
*I’ve noticed that publishers have shifted some of their new mystery series to Trade paperback (full size paperback with a sale price around $15 or $16) or hardcover (with a sale price around $25) instead of Mass Market paperback which runs around $8. When I think of it, I’ll try to note the format so readers can plan their book budgets – and trips to the library – accordingly.

REVIEW: The Fall of Grace by Amy Fellner Dominy

REVIEW: The Fall of Grace by Amy Fellner Dominy

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

MAY – Grace’s world falls to pieces when her mom is served with an FBI warrant for financial fraud and then collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Grace is 17. Her mom is in a coma. And everyone from the FBI to Grace’s classmates to the staff at her school is screaming for answers. Where’s their money? And did Grace know her mother was a thief?

AUGUST – Grace has a one way bus ticket to Colorado. She’s going to the one place that was special to her mother. At least, that’s what her mother always told her. But Grace isn’t sure what she can trust anymore. Yet she needs answers. One of those angry classmates has followed her, determined to get the truth from Grace about the money.

Two timelines weave together to tell the story of the original fall from grace and the story of Grace’s plan to sort things out once and for all.

Review

This was terrific! The plot was brilliant. A fraud scheme where the one person who can tell everyone the truth is in a coma, trapped in her own body, unable to lie or come clean. Her teenage daughter is left holding the bag. Grace was the face of the fund, and now she’s the face of the scandal. People want answers, and Grace is the target for their rage.

The two timelines are a great format. It allows the author to dole out the story of Grace’s summer exploring the past and trying to uncover the truth. The August timeline points to the future. What will happen to Grace now? What has she discovered, and what might she learn in Colorado? And how will any discovery change the situation for her?

This was engrossing. I read it in one sitting. A great read! (Some language. Trigger warning: attempted assualt)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz

REVIEW: As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this from Netgalley and Midnight Ink in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Christmas has come to Jewel Bay, Montana. Erin is working on making sure her family business, Murphy’s Mercantile, has a profitable holiday season. She’s also awaiting the arrival of a new niece or nephew and finalizing plans for her Christmas Eve wedding.

When Merrily Thornton returns to Jewel Bay looking for a second chance with her family, Erin sees a woman only a few years older than she is who needs a good friend. As a teen, Merrily went to prison for embezzling money from a local business. Merrily’s parents were so mortified by her behavior, they disowned her. Almost 20 years later, Merrily hoped they might find it in their hearts to forgive her and get to know the college-aged granddaughter they had never met. But Walt and Taya Thornton want nothing to do with Merrily or her family.

Erin invites Merrily to a holiday cookie exchange, but Merrily never arrives. She’s later found dead. It looks like Merrily started up her money tricks again when her employer discovers money missing from the business. But Erin doesn’t believe Merrily would do that. She’s not even sure Merrily did it the first time. Erin will have to pull out her Spreadsheet of Suspicion once again to track down the killer and the truth.

Review

This was terrific! I read book one when it first came out, but I haven’t been able to keep up with the rest of the series. Now I have to go back and get caught up because this was so fun! I had no trouble following the story without having read the previous books, although several references to earlier events did make me want to catch up soon.

The characters are great – and there are LOTS of them. Like any good cozy, you want the reader to care about the whole community. The author does a great job of creating a full, rich cast and setting while keep the focus on the mystery. I loved Erin and her family and friends. They are people I would hang out with, and Jewel Bay is a place I would love to visit.

The mystery was great. I was able to puzzle out the killer, but not until Erin was putting the last few pieces together. The pacing of the mystery was excellent. Things moved at a comfortable rate and there were no lagging spots that made it hard for me to pick the book back up when I had to set it aside. I was always eager to get back to everything – the characters, Jewel Bay, the wedding plans, and the mystery.

This is book 5 in the series. It’s a little earlier in the year than I usually dive into a Christmas book, but it such a fun story, I found it refreshing. I can’t wait to catch up on all of Erin’s adventures that I have missed.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥